We Will Get that Dinner Party! - But Not Now...

Am I still trying to have my dinner party in the midst of a battle field?...Yes, in subtle ways, every day, I find myself still trying to have an "easy life", and getting disappointed by the trials that come my way. In my head, I know that trials are for my good - to weed out of my characters all the selfishness, resentment and sin that lurks beneath my notice. But the human heart still desires peace and ease!

But there is to be no peaceful and easy life here.

Sanctification is not the work of a moment, an hour, or a day. It is a continual growth in grace. We know not one day how strong will be our conflict the next. Satan lives, and is active, and every day we need to cry earnestly to God for help and strength to resist him. As long as Satan reigns we shall have self to subdue, besetments to overcome, and there is no stopping place, there is no point to which we can come and say we have fully attained. . . . {God's Amazing Grace, p.291}

But, while we need to be part of the battle on the battle field (not part of the attempted dinner party), we do not battle alone. When we cry for help, help is given - God's Spirit and angels from heaven. God promises to help us when we call unto Him earnestly; He promises that no temptation shall be too great for us to bear with His help; and that He will supply all our needs.

Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.(1 Cor 10:12 & 13)

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. (Phil 4:13)

But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (Phil 4:19)

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (Heb 4:16)

So, while we may be in a fierce battle, we do not battle alone. We have help right beside us. But, we will get that "Dinner Party", when the battle is all over. It will be the best dinner party, with the best music, with the best company, you could ever want:

The wonderful things I there saw I cannot describe. Oh, that I could talk in the language of Canaan, then could I tell a little of the glory of the better world. I saw there tables of stone in which the names of the 144,000 were engraved in letters of gold. After we beheld the glory of the temple, we went out, and Jesus left us and went to the city. Soon we heard His lovely voice again, saying, "Come, My people, you have come out of great tribulation, and done My will; suffered for Me; come in to supper, for I will gird Myself, and serve you." We shouted, "Alleluia! glory!" and entered into the city. And I saw a table of pure silver; it was many miles in length, yet our eyes could extend over it. I saw the fruit of the tree of life, the manna, almonds, figs, pomegranates, grapes, and many other kinds of fruit. I asked Jesus to let me eat of the fruit. He said, "Not now. Those who eat of the fruit of thisland go back to earth no more. But in a little while, if faithful, you shall both eat of the fruit of the tree of life and drink of the water of the fountain." And He said, "You must go back to the earth again and relate to others what I have revealed to you." Then an angel bore me gently down to this dark world. Sometimes I think I can stay here no longer; all things of earth look so dreary. I feel very lonely here, for I have seen a better land. Oh, that I had wings like a dove, then would I fly away and be at rest! (Early Writings 19,20)

May we all be faithful while on the battle field, so that we can be there for the greatest Dinner Party that has ever occurred in the Universe!